Invisible Struggle: Diabetes Self-Management Through the Eyes of Diabetic Individuals With Retinopathy.
Tuğba Bilgehan, Münevver Sönmez, Hülya Türkçapar and 1 others
PMID 40436421WHAT IT FOUND
Thirteen women with diabetic retinopathy described vision loss making insulin dosing, glucose reading, meal preparation, and exercise unsafe or hard.
They wanted family and health professional support, and audible or automated diabetes devices.
Key findings
01Vision loss made insulin dosing and glucose meter reading uncertain, with participants describing misread numbers and anxiety about errors.
02Participants reported that not being able to read recipes, labels, or ingredients led to less controlled food choices, often bread.
03Participants said social support and accessible diabetes technology were central to managing diabetes with vision loss.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
All participants were women, so the findings may not represent men with diabetic retinopathy. The study was done in one state hospital in Ankara, so the findings may not transfer to other settings. The study reports perceptions and experiences, not measured diabetes control, medication errors, or clinical outcomes. The sample was small and reached saturation, so it cannot show how common these experiences are. The interview questions were developed by the research team, although bracketing, an independent auditor, and participant confirmation were used.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these themes as proof that nurse-led education or diabetes devices improve outcomes. The study describes 13 women's experiences, not a tested intervention.